Paraguayan Civil War
Encyclopedia
The Paraguayan Civil War was a conflict in Paraguay
that lasted from March to August 1947.
In 1940, President
Higinio Morínigo
suspended the constitution and banned political parties
. Resistance to his rule took the form of general strikes and student riots. In 1946, Morínigo legalized political activity and formed a cabinet with the Revolutionary Febrerista Party
and the Colorado Party
. The Febreristas resigned from the coalition on January 11, 1947, angry that Morínigo seemed to be favouring the Colorados.
The Febreristas made common cause with the Liberal Party
and the Paraguayan Communist Party
. Rafael Franco
led a rebellion which became a civil war
as the Paraguayan armed forces
, which had previously remained loyal, split.
On the rebel's side were all the political parties except the Colorados, most of the bankers and administrators and 80% of the officers. Out of eleven army divisions, four joined the rebels-on March 8 the two infantry divisions at Concepcion
rebelled, joined by the two Chaco infantry divisions a few days later.
On the government's side were the Colorados, the three cavalry divisions at Campo Grande; the three Asunción divisions (infantry, signallers and engineers) and the artillery division from Paraguari. Most importantly, Argentina
under Juan Peron
gave vital support to the government without which they might well have fallen.
On April 27, the navy joined the rebellion and shelled Asunción
, they were fought off by the artillery division that had come from Paraguari, commanded by Alfredo Stroessner
. Two canoneer ships (Paraguay and Humaita) were seized by the rebels in Buenos Aires while they were repaired.
Morínigo fought back and eventually gained the upper hand, and had won back control by August 1947. A third of the population had fled.
Paraguay
Paraguay , officially the Republic of Paraguay , is a landlocked country in South America. It is bordered by Argentina to the south and southwest, Brazil to the east and northeast, and Bolivia to the northwest. Paraguay lies on both banks of the Paraguay River, which runs through the center of the...
that lasted from March to August 1947.
In 1940, President
President of Paraguay
The President of Paraguay is according to the Paraguayan Constitution the Chief of the Executive branch of the Government of Paraguay...
Higinio Morínigo
Higinio Morínigo
General Higinio Morínigo Martínez was a Paraguayan dictator, general and political figure. He served as the President of Paraguay from 7 September 1940 to 3 June 1948....
suspended the constitution and banned political parties
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
. Resistance to his rule took the form of general strikes and student riots. In 1946, Morínigo legalized political activity and formed a cabinet with the Revolutionary Febrerista Party
Revolutionary Febrerista Party
The Revolutionary Febrerista Party is a democratic socialist party of Paraguay.-History:The party was established on 11 December 1951 in Buenos Aires, Argentina and was initially banned in Paraguay, which was under a Colorado Party regime at the time. The party was legalised in 1964 as it was no...
and the Colorado Party
Colorado Party (Paraguay)
The National Republican Association – Colorado Party is a political party in Paraguay, founded in 1887 by Bernardino Caballero. It is usually known as the Colorado Party...
. The Febreristas resigned from the coalition on January 11, 1947, angry that Morínigo seemed to be favouring the Colorados.
The Febreristas made common cause with the Liberal Party
Liberal Party (Paraguay)
The Liberal Party , commonly known as the Blue Party was a political party in Paraguay, ruling the country for most of the period between 1904 and 1940.-References:...
and the Paraguayan Communist Party
Paraguayan Communist Party
Paraguayan Communist Party is a communist political party in Paraguay. PCP was founded on February 19, 1928. Later it was recognized as a section of the Communist International. It was brutally suppressed during the military regimes of the country. It gained legality for a brief period in 1936 and...
. Rafael Franco
Rafael Franco
Rafael Franco Ojeda was President of Paraguay from February 17, 1936 to August 13, 1937. He was a member of the Febrerista Revolutionary Party....
led a rebellion which became a civil war
Civil war
A civil war is a war between organized groups within the same nation state or republic, or, less commonly, between two countries created from a formerly-united nation state....
as the Paraguayan armed forces
Military of Paraguay
The armed forces of Paraguay consist of the Paraguayan army, navy and air force.The constitution of Paraguay establishes the president of Paraguay as the commander-in-chief....
, which had previously remained loyal, split.
On the rebel's side were all the political parties except the Colorados, most of the bankers and administrators and 80% of the officers. Out of eleven army divisions, four joined the rebels-on March 8 the two infantry divisions at Concepcion
Concepción, Paraguay
- Sources :* – World-Gazetteer.com...
rebelled, joined by the two Chaco infantry divisions a few days later.
On the government's side were the Colorados, the three cavalry divisions at Campo Grande; the three Asunción divisions (infantry, signallers and engineers) and the artillery division from Paraguari. Most importantly, Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
under Juan Peron
Juan Perón
Juan Domingo Perón was an Argentine military officer, and politician. Perón was three times elected as President of Argentina though he only managed to serve one full term, after serving in several government positions, including the Secretary of Labor and the Vice Presidency...
gave vital support to the government without which they might well have fallen.
On April 27, the navy joined the rebellion and shelled Asunción
Asunción
Asunción is the capital and largest city of Paraguay.The "Ciudad de Asunción" is an autonomous capital district not part of any department. The metropolitan area, called Gran Asunción, includes the cities of San Lorenzo, Fernando de la Mora, Lambaré, Luque, Mariano Roque Alonso, Ñemby, San...
, they were fought off by the artillery division that had come from Paraguari, commanded by Alfredo Stroessner
Alfredo Stroessner
Alfredo Stroessner Matiauda, whose name is also spelled Strössner or Strößner , was a Paraguayan military officer and dictator from 1954 to 1989...
. Two canoneer ships (Paraguay and Humaita) were seized by the rebels in Buenos Aires while they were repaired.
Morínigo fought back and eventually gained the upper hand, and had won back control by August 1947. A third of the population had fled.